April 9, 12: Add variety to orchard by learning to graft

grafting-70EVERETT, Wash. – Adding fruit trees to a home or commercial orchard can be an expensive proposition – unless you know how to graft.

West side tree fruit expert Gary Moulton will present a two-part lecture and hands-on workshop on grafting. Participants will learn about different types of grafting, how to choose and take scion wood, how to choose a receptor site, how to make the graft and how to seal it properly.

Cost for just the lecture is $30 per person; the lecture and hands-on workshop cost $75 per person and include four rootstocks. Those attending the hands-on session must also attend the lecture/practice session.

Enrollment is limited. Registration and prepayment are required to hold a spot. Register online at http://Graft.BrownPaperTickets.com or download the form at http://ext100.wsu.edu/snohomish/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2014-Pomology-workshops.pdf and mail with a check. For registration information, contact Karie Christensen at 425-357-6039 or christensen4@wsu.edu.

grafting-250* Part 1: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Cougar Auditorium, 600 – 128th St. SE, Everett, inside McCollum Park.

Attendees will practice bench grafts. Bring a grafting knife for hands-on practice. Knives will be available for purchase for $20 (cash or check).

* Part 2: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Ed’s Apples, 13420 – 339th Ave. SE, Sultan, Wash.

Participants will do bench grafting onto apple and pear rootstocks and then head outside to graft new varieties onto old trees, a technique called “top work.”

Each Saturday attendee will receive two EMLA 26 apple and two OHxF 87 pear rootstocks to bench graft and take home. Several types of scion wood will be available (including cider apple stock) or participants can bring their own. Instructions for cutting scion wood (must be dormant) can be found at http://tinyurl.com/scionwood.

Bring a brown bag lunch, grafting knife and gloves; dress for weather and mud.

A former instructor and program director at Washington State University Mount Vernon, Moulton works as a private consultant and workshop speaker. He holds a master’s degree from WSU in plant pathology specializing in fruit diseases and a bachelor’s degree in pomology/fruit science from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.

He has authored several WSU Extension publications, taught workshops for WSU Extension and the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture and been a guest expert on TV’s “Gardening with Ed Hume.”

For more information on the workshop, contact Andrew Corbin, corbina@wsu.edu or 425-357-6012.

 

Contacts:

Andrew Corbin, WSU Extension, 425-357-6012, corbina@wsu.edu

Kate Halstead, WSU Extension, 360-794-6081, khalstead@wsu.edu